Renal cell carcinoma is a kidney cancer that arises in the lining of renal tubules. It is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. The disease can recur after treatment and may later present as metastatic disease.
Merck & Co. is bolstering its oncology pipeline with acquisitions like Terns Pharmaceuticals and Cidara Therapeutics, while Keytruda remains the key growth driver. It expects Keytruda peak sales of $35 billion by 2028 and aims to launch 20 new drugs by 2030.
KEYNOTE-942 five-year data: intismeran autogene plus Keytruda reduced melanoma recurrence risk by 49% and kept 68.8% of patients cancer-free versus 49.1% with Keytruda alone. Distant metastasis or death risk fell 59%.
The phase 3 RAMPART trial updated results show adjuvant durvalumab monotherapy did not significantly improve disease-free survival in resected renal cell carcinoma, while the durvalumab plus tremelimumab combination showed benefit in high-risk patients. Real-world treatment decisions are also shaped by patient-specific factors.
The FDA granted fast track designation to SIM0505, a CDH6-targeting antibody-drug conjugate, for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer based on preclinical and early clinical data. A phase 1 trial is currently evaluating the drug in advanced solid tumors, with initial data expected at the 2026 ASCO conference. The company plans to begin dose optimization studies in ovarian cancer patients in Q2 2026.
A redesigned CD40 agonist antibody achieved complete remission in two of 12 patients with metastatic cancer in early trials, while separate research identified a method to prevent deadly heart complications from immune checkpoint inhibitors.
The 2026 ASCO GU Symposium featured significant trial results in renal cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, and prostate cancer, including data from LITESPARK-022, KEYNOTE-B15, SunRISE-2, and PEACE-3 studies.
Phase III trial demonstrates belzutifan plus lenvatinib significantly improved progression-free survival versus cabozantinib in previously treated renal cell carcinoma patients, while neoadjuvant studies show promise for locally advanced disease.
The FDA approved KEYTRUDA and its subcutaneous QLEX formulation for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, marking the first PD-1 inhibitor cleared for this patient population based on Phase 3 results.
Moderna and Merck announced median five-year follow-up data showing intismeran autogene in combination with Keytruda reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 49% in high-risk patients following complete resection.
| NCT ID | Title | Status | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07753343 |
Identification and Description of Patients With High-risk Non Metastatic RCC |
RECRUITING | |
| NCT07697417 |
Multimodal Prediction of Postoperative Prognosis After Partial Nephrectomy for Endophytic Renal Cell Carcinoma |
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING | |
| NCT07686744 |
Neoantigen Peptide Vaccine Plus Pembrolizumab in Renal Cell Carcinoma |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE1 |
| NCT07623369 |
A First-in-Human Study of HH160 in Participants With Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors |
RECRUITING | PHASE1 |
| NCT07593040 |
Pembrolizumab Plus Belzutifan With or Without Lenvatinib in Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE2 |
| NCT07436416 |
Circulating and Urinary Exosomal miRNA as Predictors of Treatment Response in Advanced Kidney Cancer |
COMPLETED | NA |
| NCT07406646 |
Circulating and Urinary Exosomal miRNA in Advanced Kidney Cancer (EXO-RENAL1) |
COMPLETED | NA |
| NCT07397611 |
Pre-NEOSHIFT-RCC: Neoadjuvant HIF-Inhibitor Immunotherapy in RCC |
RECRUITING | PHASE2 |
| NCT07346404 |
Dynamic 82-Rb Positron Emission Tomography (PET) for the Grading of KIDney Carcinoma |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE2 |
| NCT07326280 |
The Cold Ischemia Robot-assisted Partial Nephrectomy |
RECRUITING | NA |
